Dispensing apparatus



'Oct. 21, 1930.- E. BRUNHOFF 1,778,843

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 89 [nzrmzay Oct; 21, 1930. BRUNHOFF 1,778,843

DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 71 v jmremm;

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Oct. 21, 1930. E. BRUNHOFF 4 DISPENSING. APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1927 's Sheets-sheaf, s

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Patented Oct. 21, 1930 warren erases} Par-Er A EDWARD awesome: WYOMING, OI-IiO, assienon 'I'OflIfHE 'ARNOLD ELEC TBIQ GOIVIPANYMQEB'ACINE, w soonsinn coaronsrron or ,WISCONSIN" I' nisrnnsnve APPARATUS Application filed April 15,

My invention relates to improvements in dispensing apparatus. One of its objects to provide improved apparatus adaptedto display pulverous substances, as for instance 5 malted-milk or chocolate, for sale and to dispense or deliver the same in substantially uniform measured quantities by lever actuated dispensing mechanism. Another ob-' ject is to provide an improved assembly and i combination of apparatus for such purpose.

Another object is to provide dispensing apparatus adapted to, be readily separated into its compoments so as to be immersed in warm or-hot water for cleaning purposes, and to. 15 be conveniently assembled. Another object is to provide improved couplingmeans for. coupling the measuring and dispensing mechanism with the actuating mechanism.

Another object is toprovide improved actu- 2 ating mechanism actuated by a downward movement of the actuating. lever and-adapted to move uniformly. atfa predetermined step by, step movementto insure uniform measurement-and delivery. I Another. object v25 is to provide improved lever actuated ratchet mechanism. My invention also comprises certain details of form andarrangement and combination of components, all of which will be fully. set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the dispensing tray, detached. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing tray, detached and inverted. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a diaphragm or separator interposed between the body OI" the articlev to be dispensed'and the ex it or delivery port, detached. 1 M Fig. 5 isa plan of the dispensing appa ratus shown invFig; 1 withthe lid and hopper or container cylinder detached.

Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of the measuring and dispensing ,mem'berdetaohed.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of-a combined coupling meinberand power agitating mem ber detached. e v

Fig. 8 is a'view similar to Fig. 6" illustratbe ing a modification thereof.

1927. SriaiNo. 184,126.? I

Fig.- 9-is a view similar to Fig. 7, illustrat in a..mo dification thereof.-

. p 7 ig. 10 is aplan of the ratchetmechanism and lever mechanism employed to. actuate; the dispensing apparatus. y e

. Figxll isfa sectional detailtakenfupon. line 11 11 ofFig-10.

. Fig. 12xis. a perspective viewofthe feeds. ing ratchet wheel detached. i

Fig. 13 is aside elevation of theactuating lever detached. v Fig. 14; is a perspective :view ofJa pawl carrying rocker'plate detached,

Fig. 15 is a perspective View of, a; pawl detached. 4

The accompanying ldrawings illustrate. what are believed teE-b'e the .preferredemg bodiments of. my, invention. [As illustrated in theprincipal figureslS represents abas'e support in the.- upper end of which is formed a chamber 19, inwhic'h are mounted an actuating lever20, ratchet wl1eel2l, other apparatus required ,to actuate theme asg wing and dispensing. apparatus. Detach ably mounted upon the upperend Of the base 18 andforming alid forthecharhbfl 19 is a dispensing tray 22 provided witha raised annular ri1nf23, and provided with anfexit or delivery port 24, through the floor thereof near the rim 23 at one side of, its center, andv a centralperforation 25 for the pas'sage of a keyor driving aKleZfi, A tubular member 27, preferably of transpare ent material is seated Within the upper p01 tion of the rim 2,3, with its lower edge r'esting upon a ledge 28-formedpar't way down v the inner face of the rim 23by increasing the thicknessof the lower portion 95f the riin23. I The tubular member 27v and tray 221 form a container for the pulverous materialgtobe dispensed. A cap orvlid 29'is detachably seated upon the upper edge ofthe tubular member 27. The material to be dispensed is r chargedin bulk into'the container or hopper .27,where it is exposed to view throughthe transparent walls of the ne'mber'ZY, and at the, same timefis housedand, protect-ed.

against dust ormoistnre. g p Resting loosely upon the floor of the tray 22 is a dispensing l spider comprising a icen" 1 0 tral hub 30 and an annular body or core 31,

from which a series of arms 32 extend ra-i 7 nular shoulder orbearing 33. The hub 30 is also provided with a polygonal perforation 34, or an equivalent thereof, to prevent the axle or key rotating relative togsaid hub.

Adiaphragm plate 35, see Fig. 4, has a perforation 36 to register with and form a bearing for the. shoulder 33 of the hub 30.

One section 37 of the plate 35 rests flat upon the upper face ofthe body or core 31, while the othersection38 rests upon at-least two of'the radial arms 32 directly above the exit port 24, so as to -prevent the material to be dispensed from being discharged directly from the hopper downwardly between the radial arms 32 and through the exit port with-.

, out measuring and controlling tliefeed thereof. The outer edge 39 of the section 38 enters an off-set or recess 40 in the ledge 28 to lock or retain the plate inplace at one end thereof, while the bearing 33 retains'the opposite end of plate 35 in place while in operation.

' I positions. The edge 89 of section ,erably beveled as shown in Fig.5.

The lower edge of the tubular member 27v bears upon the upper face oftheplate35' at its outer edge 39' to hold the edge 39 in place in" the recess 40. At the same timethe plate 35 and dispen'sing spider may be readily liftedout and washed or dipped in hot water and dried and returned to their operative 38 is pre The actuating lever 20 'is pivotally at tached at 42 to a projection 43 extending inwardly from thewall ofchamber 19. The

arm 44 of lever 20 r0cks onthe center 42, and

has pivotally attached thereto'a t one end a' link 45. The arm 46 of lever 20 extends from the interior ofchamber 19 through a. slot 47 to the exterior-of the base, where it is pro vided with a head or push-button 48. The lever 20 is actuatedby pressure downwardly upon the head '48, which is in a direction 1 which has theleast tendency to upset or disturb the equilibrium of the apparatus.

Inside the chamber 19 are two triangular frame members 50 and 51, one below the other, which are attached together at their. extremities, and also attached rigidly to cats 52 projecting inwardly from the walls of chamber 19, by means of screws 53.I The ratchet wheel 21 has 'a series of uniformly spaced ratchet teeth'55, and a polygonal bore 56 corresponding to the exterior ofthedriving shaft26. The hub 57 of the ratchet wheel .journals in a bearing in the upper frame member 50, and the hub 58 of theratc'het wheel journals in a bearing in the lower frame member '51, thus holding the ratchet Wheel ournaled in chamber 19 withits axis of rotation in a substantially vertical position and directly beneaththe bore 34' 0f the spider. The dispensing tray is provided upon its under face with dowel pins 59 which register with andenteuperforations 60in the lugs '61 projecting from the walls of the chamber 19'inwardly, thus-automatically center ingthe tray 22 .upon the basef18, to close the chamber 19, and "enabling thetray 22 and all'parts carried thereby 'to loe' freely lifted awayfrom the base 18, and replaced thereon.

A rocker plate 63 is journaled uponthe hub v 58 of the ratchetwheel 21 above the frame member 51', and is pivotally attached to the opposite end of'the link 45 bymeans of a screw or pin entering the perforation 64 of said plate 63, thereby causing-the plate 63 to rockto and fro when the lever 20 is actuated.

A pawl 65 is pivotallyattached to the plate 63 by means of-a screw orpin entering the perforation 66, and the free end of said pawl is held yieldingly' in engagement with the ratchetteeth 55 by means of a leaf spring 67. held rigidly at one end in a slot in the lug 68 projecting upwardly from the plate The pawl 65 as shown is set to rotate the ratchet wheel 21 in a clock-wise'directiom A-pawl 70 is pivotally attached to the upper frame member 50 at 71, and is provided with a 'trans-' 7 Verse pin 72Iextendingabove' and below said pawl. The freeend of pawl 7 O engages the teeth 55 of the ratchet wheel 21 to limit the I movement of the ratchet wheel to a single clock-wise step at a time, which is effected through the upper end'of the pin 7 2 having alimited movement" between the edge of the frame'member 50 and a finger 73projecting outwardly from the side of t-heframe member 50, while at'the same timethe lower end of the pin 7 2 projects into a space between the cam members 74and 7 5 extending outwardly from the rocker plate 63, to causecthe pawl 7 0 to be lifted out of the path'of the teeth'55 by the cam 7 5 when the lever 46 is released or .elevated, and the pawl-65 is retracted for a new engagement and to force the pawl 70 into the path of a tooth 55 due to engagementof the cam 74 with pin 72 at the end of the forward movement ofthe pawl 65 and plate 63, due to depressionof the lever 46. Thus the ratchet: wheel 21Ifat each depression of'the lever 46 makes a uniform forward feed equal to the spacefrom one tooth55 to the next, and

due to the cams 74 and 75 and'pin 72'does not tion upon the chamber 19of the base, the dispensing' spider is placed upon t-hefloor of the tray .22, and the plate 35 placed in "position. Thedrivingshaft or axle 26 is then inserted through the polygonal perforationl34 in the spiderand" down" through the perforation of the trayandinto' the polygonal perforation 56 in the ratchet wheel2l, thereby coupling the spider in drivingrelation to the ratchet wheel, and at the same time enabling the driving shaft to be freely inserted or lifted out as required. At the'upper end ofv there are eight radial arms 32, and that the I key or shaft-26 is square in cross section,

which results in so coupling the spider relative to the ratchet wheel as in each instance to place the exitport 24 between two of the arms 32 each time that the spider and ratchet wheel come to a position of rest,'which position is important to a proper operation ofthe appa- .agonal instead of square as in Fig. 7. Also a ratchet wheel having ahexagonal bore to reg ister with the shaft 84: would be employed with the spider and shaft of Figs. 8 and 9, in order to insure spacing of twoof thearms 81 upon opposite sides ofthe exit port 24 each.

time that'the ratchet wheel and spider reached a position of rest.

At the upper end of the shaft 26 is a disk 86 which in operation lies -'flush upon the upper face of the plates in such relation thereto as to'prevent anyof the material to be 'vended from working or getting into the bore 34 of the spider-and to thereby preventany' of'the material to'be vended reaching the operative parts within the chamber'19.

Some ofthe materials designed tobe dispensed-through my improved apparatus contain sugar or similar material having a-tendency to takeup moisture and to adhere tothe faces of the operative partsy andin any event it is important to be able to keep theseparts clean and in sanitary condition. All of the parts of-my improved apparatus which come into contact with the material to be vended are adapted to be readily separated one from another without the use of bolts or screws or similar fastening members, and to be washed, heated and sterilized and then as readily reassembled for use, and the structure is such that the parts are incapable of being assembled in inoperative or improper relation.

The operation is as follows; the tray 22 is placed in'position above the chamber 19 being guided to position and retained therein Sir by the dowel pins'59. The spider 31 and across the exit port 24', and causes the pow ratchets ready for a new operation.

plate 35"are placed-within the'tray 22', and the -key or shaft 26 inserted from; above through the bore 34 in the spider and into the bore 56' in the ratchet wheel. The tubular member 27 is then placed in position to rest uponthe ledge. 28. and to prevent displacement of the'plate 35. The powder to be dispensed is'then fill ed into the member 2 7 and the" lid 29 placed in position: Thereafter each operation of the lever 20 causes the ratchet wheel to move one step forward clock-wise, carrying with it'thespider 31 and its arms 32 together with the powder located between therespective'arms 32. Each movement of the spider'carr'ies one of the arms derbetween two of said arms 32to be fed beneath the section38 ofplate 35,and hence to be discharged through the exit p0rt24 into a container held below the"exit port 24:. Assoon as the lever '20 is released, the same is returned to its normal position, carrying with it the rocker-plate 63, which resets the Each movement of the spidercarries the shaft 26 andits cross armj therewith, causing: the arm 95 to agitate the powder above the plate 35' and above theispider'to therebyfeedl' the powder from above down into th'e spaces between-the arms 32, until each of said spaces is'unif'ormly filled so long as there isa sup-y plyof powder aboveto be fed thereto."

In order-to insure invariable discharge of the powder from betweenthe arms of the spider and'through the exit or delivery port '1 2t, Ipreferably provide arms 32 or 81', which are thicker at their upper;- edges than attheir lower edges, asshown in Figs.' Sand 8, to thereby provide downwardly diverging pockets betweenthe armsy32 or 81 to more readily detach and; discharge the powder through the exit port 24, To further insure such invariable discharge .of-the powder, I preferably-provide a recess 98 upon the under face of the plate 88 and vertically above 1 the exit port24. In this recess'98 is mounted along one edge a leaf spring96 of thin spring sheet metal; which yields and'enters' the recess 98 to permit the passage'of 'th'e respective arms 32 or81, and which-is released so as tofspri'ng or press downwardly upon thepowder in the pocket between any'two arms 32,

as soon as the advanced arm 82 of the pair has'passed out'o'f engagement with the free end of-the spring 96. V A I I The apparatus herein shown and described "isca'pable of considerablemodification within the scope of the claims without departing 'fromthe spirit of my inventioni Vhat I claim is: I v 1'. A dispenslng apparatus comprising a base, actuating mechanism including aromounted ins-aidbajse, a dispensing tray detachably mounted upon said base-and form-* tary member-having a non circula'r boref iso ing theibottom of a dispexisinghopper', a dispensing'member having a non-circular bore mounted in the bottom vof'said .tray and adapted when actuatedito. dispense the contents of said hopperin measured quantities, and an actuating shaft having a cross-section fitting said bores and a powder excluding detachably in the bottom of said tray and Y adapted when actuated tof'dispense the contents of said hopper in measured quantities, and an actuatingshaft fitting the bores of said ratchet and dispensing member and having a powder excludinghead and freely movable endwiseand detachably from withinsaid tray throughthe bottom of said tray to operatively connect said, dispensing member to said actuating mechanism, and to exclude powder from said actuating mechanism.

r 3. A dispensing apparatus comprising a base, an actuating mechanism mounted in said base and having a ratchet wheel mounted rotatably upon a substantiallyvertical tubular axle havinga non-circularbore,a'dispensingtray detachably mounted upon said base above said actuating mechnism, and forming the bottomof adispensing hopper, a dispensing member having a [hub portion with a non-circular bore and'detachably and rotatably mounted in the bottom of saidfltray and adapted when actuated to. dispense the contents of said hopper in measured'quantities, and an actuating shaft havingja noncircular: cross section fitting said bores and a powder excluding head, said shaft adapted to be detachably and freely inserted endwise through the bottom of said tray to operatively connect said dispensing member with the axle of said actuating mechanism ratchet wheel. v i

f. A dispensing apparatus comprising a dispenslng tray formlng the bottom OfELCllS- pensing hopper, said tray having a dispensing port, a V dispensing member having an axial, non-circularbore located in said tray and operable to discharge the contents of said hopper in measured units through said dispensing port, a base supporting said hopper and tray, an actuating lever adapted to move in a substantially vertical direction when actuated, a ratchet wheel journaled vupon a vertlcal axis and provldedwith a non-c rcumechanism comprising a lar; axial 'bore,- a rocker plate; journaledconcentrically with the axleof saidratchetwheel and connected to and adapted'to be reciprocated by said actuating lever, anact-uating pawl carried by said rocker plate and adapted to feed said ratchet wheel forward step by V step, a stop pawl faced in a reverse directlon to that of said actuating pawl, and adapted to engage the teeth ofsaidratchet wheel to pre-v vent said'ratchet wheel moving exceptin a predetermined manner, and means to positively actuate saidstoppawl to permit said ratchet wh'eel-tomove only one step at a time, and an'actuating shaft having a cross-section fittingsaidbores in the dispensing member and ratchet wheel adapted to be freely and detach'ably, inserted endwise therein to operatively connect said dispensing member and lratchet wheeld Z '5. A dispensing apparatus comprising a base member, an actuating memberhaving a non circular bore mounted :upon said base member, a dispensing, tray provided with a dispensing port detachably and loosely 'mountedupon said base member, interengag ing dowel members to guideand hold said tray relative to said base member, a dispensmg member hav ng a non-circular bore and provided w th powder receiving measuring pockets detachably mountedjupon" the floor of said tray and adapted to feed the contents of the trayto said dispensing'port, and a connecting member fitting the bores of and freely insertable axially of said dispensing and actuating'niembers tooperatively and detachably connect said members;

6. A dispensing apparatus comprising a base member, an actuating mechanism, includlng acratchet having a non-circular bore,

mounted upon said base member and provided with a downwardly movable actuating lever serving when actuated, to stabilizesaid base ,member, a dispensing tray provided with adispensing port detachably and loosely mounted upon said base member, interengaging dowel members carried by said base men1- ber. and saidtray' to guide and hold said tray relative to. said base member, a. dispensing member having a non-circular bore and provided with powder" receiving and measuring pockets detachably and loosely mounted upon the floor of said tray and adapted to feed the contents of the tray to said'dis'pensing port, and a connectinginember. fitting said noncircular'bores and adapted to be" freely and detachably inserted from' above axially of said dispensing member to operatively and detachably connect said dispensing member to said ratchet.

7. Dis ensin a) aratus com risin -abase b l r;

member, actuating mechanism mounted in' said base member,dispensingapparatus sepajrably mounted upon, said" base member, a coupling stem adaptedstobe detachably inserted from above and'to couple said dispen's ing apparatus operatively to said actuating mechanism, and a manually operableactuating lever operable by pressure downwardly thereon in a substantially vertical direction, said actuating mechanism and dispensing mechanism having aligned non-circular apertures through which said coupling stem may be inserted. y

8. Dispensing apparatus comprising a base member, actuating mechanism mounted in said base member, a dispensing tray mounted separably upon and above said base and actuating mechanism and provided with a dispensing port in the floor thereof, a dispensing spider mounted loosely upon the floor of said tray and provided with an upwardly extending centrally located shoulder, a plate mounted non-rotatably relative to said tray vertically above'said dispensing port and] above said dispensing spider, a coupling stem provided with a head recessed. to fit over the raised central shoulder of said dispensing spider and detachably insertable from above and serving to op'eratively' couple said disensin s ider to said actuatin mechanism.

9. Dispensing apparatus comprising a base member, actuating mechanism mounted in I said base member, a manually operable actuating lever operableby pressure downwardly thereon ina substantially vertical direction,

a dispensing trayjseparably mounted upon and above said base member andactuating mechanism and held and guided into position relative to said base member by'means of a vertical dowel pin, said dispensingtray being provided with a dispensing'port, a dispensing spider mounted within said dispensing tray,

a plate above said dispensing port and above said dispensing spider, and upwardly removable means :tordetacliably coupling said spider with said actuating mechanism.

In testimony whereof signature.

I have afiixed my I EDWARD BRUNHo F," 5 

